Post-classical period

Post-Classical India (600-1200)
- Hinduism is very well established
- It is the oldest religion in the world
- It is a blend of native Indian beliefs + Indus Valley religions with Aryan religion.
- Aryans = a tribe from the Caucasus mountains who invaded India around 1500 BCE.
  - The Aryans have iron weapons
  - They create social Caste System
- Social Caste System
  - It was based on “purity” + on profession.
  - Everyone was born into their role.
  - The different roles include:
  - Brahmins
    - Intellectuals + priests
- Reincarnation
- Vocab
  - Atman = Soul
  - Dharma = Leading a morally good life for one’s caste + Station in life
  - You should be happy with your station and not aspire to be something else. You need to be good at what you are born into. If you do that you will earn good karma
  - Karma = the ratio of good deeds to bad deeds.
  - If you have good karma you will move up in the Caste system after you die. Your soul will keep reincarnating.
  - Moksha = one’s atman reunites with the universe.
  - This occurs after a soul is completely purified by many reincarnations.
- Hinduism Gods
  - Brachman = Universal Soul
  - This concept of God is too huge for Humans to understand. That is why there are many smaller Gods, so that people can connect with faces of the main God.
  - Hindu Trinity
  - Brahma = God of creation
    - Not as worshiped because his job is already done
  - Vishnu = God of Preservation
    - Many stories depict that Vishnu has reincarnated and fixed nature's crisis.
    - Very popular god
  - Shiva = God of Death + Destruction.
    - Very popular God
    - He is pretty much the God of new opportunities.
  - Ganesh = the destroyer of obstacles
    - He has an elephant as a head.
    - He is a very popular God because he destroys obstacles of life.
    - He is a nice guy and helps a lot of people. He has a strong soul.
    - He helps people see beyond the surface. To see somebody's true soul.
  - Hanuman = God of friendship
    - He is a very tall monkey
    - He's the true friend.
- Aum
  - It is the first, middle, and last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, the ancient language of India.
  - Saying it is a spiritual connection to the greater being.
- Hindu Scriptures
  - Vedas - Ancient Scriptures that include Hymns, Rituals, and descriptions of the practice of Yoga.
  - Rig Veda is one of the Vedas
  - Upanishads- provides interpretations of the Vedas
  - Mahabharata - An epic poem that tells the story of the invasion of the Aryans + the help of the gods.
  - Bhagavad Gita- an important part of the Mahabharata
  - Ramayana- the story of the God Rama + how he saved the world from Evil.
- Muslim group invades India (around 1200)
- Turks invade + establish the Delhi Sultanate in Northern India.
  - They win because of advanced weaponry.
- Ruling class = Muslim
- Individual states remain under local Hindu leadership, but they must corraperate with Muslims.
- Citizens are not forced to convert to Islam
- This was not a huge inconvenience for them because it was not abnormal in their religion. Take the Mahabharata for exp.